Elevating Your Asado: Techniques for the Experienced Fire Cook

Once you’ve mastered the basics of Asado cooking on your AX live fire grill, it’s time to explore some advanced techniques that will elevate your outdoor cooking to new heights. These approaches take advantage of your grill’s versatility and superior construction to create truly memorable meals.

Consider experimenting with the traditional Asado technique of cooking “a la cruz” (on the cross), where larger cuts or even whole animals are splayed on a metal frame and cooked slowly next to the fire. Your AX grill’s robust construction and ample cooking area make it ideal for this dramatic and flavourful method. Position your frame at an angle to the fire, starting further away and gradually moving closer as needed. The radiant heat will slowly cook the meat while developing an extraordinary crust. This method requires time—often several hours—but the results are unmatched in texture and taste.

Don’t limit yourself to just meat on your AX grill. The variable cooking zones and excellent heat retention make it perfect for preparing an entire meal. Use cast iron pans or earthenware dishes placed directly on the cooking surface to prepare vegetable sides, sauces, or even desserts that benefit from wood smoke. Try roasting whole pumpkins in the embers for a smoky mash, or place a heavy pot of beans to simmer slowly at the cooler edge of the grill. The residual heat after you’ve finished your main cooking can be perfect for baking potatoes wrapped in foil buried in the dying embers, or for warming breads. This complete approach to meal preparation not only creates a cohesive flavour profile throughout your dishes but also makes the most efficient use of your fire—a principle that the thoughtful design of your AX grill fully supports.